Former Carolina Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer lands in another NFL front office

A former Carolina Panthers general manager has found a new home in the NFL.

Scott Fitterer, who served as the Panthers’ general manager from January 2021 to January 2023, will join the front office of the Washington Commanders, a league source has confirmed to The Charlotte Observer. He will be a personnel executive.

The Athletic reported the news first.

Fitterer’s run in Carolina ended unceremoniously at the end of last season, after the Panthers wrapped up a league-worst 2-15 record and didn’t have a first-round draft pick as consolation. Fitterer was fired after the team’s final game — which was the second of two consecutive shutout losses.

The former general manager was replaced by Dan Morgan, his assistant GM in his last years in Carolina.

Fitterer, 50, was granted just 11 games with his second head coach, Frank Reich, who was dismissed in Week 13 following a 1-10 start.

The Panthers won just 14 games during Fitterer’s tenure. During that stint, the team drafted cornerback Jaycee Horn, left tackle Ikem Ekwonu and quarterback Bryce Young in the first round of the annual NFL Draft. The team also dished out notable contracts to veterans such as guard Austin Corbett, punter Johnny Hekker, running back Miles Sanders, tight end Hayden Hurst, wide receiver Adam Thielen and nose tackle Shy Tuttle.

Fitterer’s tenure was also known for the departures of young homegrown talent. The former GM traded running back Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers around the 2022 NFL trade deadline. He also included wide receiver D.J. Moore in the trade package with the Chicago Bears to acquire the first overall pick in last year’s draft to land Young.

Fitterer also played a role in the departure of pass rusher Brian Burns, who was traded to the New York Giants in March. The Panthers and Burns failed to agree on a contract extension while the pass rusher played on the final year of his rookie contract. The team had previously turned down two first-round picks and more for Burns in an offer from the Los Angeles Rams in 2022. The Panthers ultimately landed a 2024 second-round pick, a swap of 2024 fifth-round picks and a 2025 fifth-round pick in exchange for Burns in the deal with New York.

The Panthers will travel to Washington to face the Commanders on Oct. 20.